Operation Puskas: Flamengo make bid for Brasileirão striker | OneFootball

New striker arrives to replace Ryan Roberto, who is on his way out to Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

While football is on hold for the World Cup, Flamengo is working behind the scenes to strengthen its youth ranks. That is because Mengo has made a bid to Vila Nova, the Serie B runners-up, to buy 18-year-old striker Gustavo Puskas.

The Rubro-Negro club’s offer to the Goiás side is R$ 3.5 million for 80% of the player’s rights. The information comes from Rádio Bandeirantes. The Most Beloved made the move the day after the news that Ryan Roberto agreed to leave Fla to play for Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR).

Will Vila agree to sell Puskas?

Vila Nova liked Mengo’s offer and is expected to go through with the deal. Puskas previously played for the club’s Under-13 and Under-15 teams, but later moved to the youth setup of Athletico-PR, which loaned the youngster to the Goiás club in 2025.

At Vila, the youngster made six appearances in Serie B of the Brazilian Championship, four in the Copa Centro-Oeste, and another six for the Under-20s. So, the player can say he played a part in the team’s runner-up spot through the 14th round of the national second division.

Is Puskas arriving to replace a specific player?

Apparently, Gustavo Puskas is coming in to make up for the departure of Ryan Roberto, who accepted an offer worth nearly 10 million euros (R$ 58.79 million). However, the new signing is a penalty-box forward, while the departing player operates out wide.

So, in practice, Vila’s striker would arrive to compete with Josmar for a spot in Flamengo Under-20. The center forward already in the Rubro-Negro youth ranks has ten goals and one assist in 25 matches in 2026.

How is Flamengo Under-20 doing?

At the moment, the Ninho do Urubu graduates are still alive in the Copa Rio Under-20 and the Brazilian Championship Under-20. Mengo’s latest match in the national competition for the age group ended this Wednesday (17) in a 1-1 draw with Cuiabá at Gávea, in the 16th round.

As for the state tournament, Fla beat Paduano 2-0 in the first leg of the round of 16. The return match kicks off at 3 p.m. (Brasília time) this Saturday (20), at Gávea. To advance, Fla can lose by up to one goal. A draw, however, takes the decision to penalties.

How is Flamengo’s senior team doing?

The World Cup has brought Brazilian football to a halt. So, the players who were not called up are on break, but they will return to training later this month. In July, however, Fla plans to hold a mid-season training camp with three friendlies in Portugal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.